AZA3462 Psychological Assessment QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS

AZA3462 Psychological Assessment QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS Psychological Assessment - Answer-The gathering and integration of psychology-related data for the purpose of making a psychological evaluation through tools such as tests, interviews, case studies, behavioral observation, and other methods. Psychological Testing - Answer-The process of measuring psychology-related variables by means of devices or procedures designed to obtain a sample of behavior. Testing is more appropriate when - Answer-- someone wants to gauge an ability for instance you want to complete a personality test for an employee at a company to see their suitability for an increase. - Testing is typically to obtain some gauge, usually numerical in nature, with regard to an ability or tribute. Assessment is used to - Answer-- answer a referral question (for instance is this patient able to go for surgery/is the person able to be released or put onto parole). - It is typically to solve a problem or arrive at a decision through the tools of evaluation. The Test - Answer-A psychological test is a device or procedure designed to measure variables related to psychology Scoring and Interpretation - Answer-- Scoring of tests may be simple, such as summing responses to items, or may require more elaborate procedures. - Some tests results can be interpreted easily, or interpreted by computer, whereas other tests require expertise for proper interpretation. Cut Score - Answer-A reference point, usually numerical, used to divide data into two or more classifications (e.g. pass or fail). Technical Quality or Psychometric Soundness - Answer-- Psychometrics is the science of psychological measurement. - The psychometric soundness of a test depends on how consistently and accurately the test measures what it purports to measure. Psychometric Utility - Answer-usefulness or practical value a test or other tool of assessment has for a particular purpose the interview - Answer-The interview is a method of gathering information through direct communication involving reciprocal exchange The quality of information obtained in an interview - Answer-often depends on the skills of the interviewer (e.g. their pacing, rapport, and their ability to convey genuineness, empathy, and humor) The Portfolio - Answer-A file containing the products of one's work. May serve as a sample of one's abilities and accomplishments Case History Data - Answer-Information preserved in records, transcripts, or other forms. Behavioral Observation - Answer-Monitoring the actions of people through visual or electronic means Naturalistic Observation - Answer-is the monitoring of someones behavior in their natural environment - Used in schools - also applied by professionals in the field of assisted living Role-Play Tests - Answer-Assessees are directed to act as if they were in a particular situation. - their thoughts, behavior and abilities are measured - can be used as both a tool of assessment and a measure of outcome Computers as Tools - Answer-- Computers can assist in test administration, scoring, and interpretation. - Scoring may be done on-site (local processing) or at a central location (central processing). - Reports may come in the form of a simple scoring report, extended scoring report, interpretive report, consultative report, or integrative report. Interpretative reports - Answer-include numerical or narrative interpretation statement that focus on highs, lows or unusual scores that were recorded Consultative report - Answer-- is done in a language the client can understand - provides expert opinion concerning the data found in the report Computer Assisted Psychological Assessment (CAPA) and Computer Adaptive Testing (CAT) have allowed for - Answer-tailor-made tests with built-in scoring and interpretive capabilities. Advantages of Internet Testing / computer assisted testing - Answer-1. Greater access to potential test-users 2. Scoring and interpretation tends to be quicker 3. Costs tend to be lower 4. Facilitates testing otherwise isolated populations and people with disabilities Disadvantages of Internet Testing / computer assisted testing - Answer-1. Verification of the test takers identity 2. Reliability, cant control if people are going to use notes or other sites Alternative Assessment - Answer-- Accommodation of test - to adjust, adapt or make a test suitable - Accommodating people with disabilities or special needs Christina Von Wolff - Answer-anticipated psychology as a science and psychological measurement as a specialty within that science Francis Galton - Answer-- Darwin's interest in individual differences led his half-cousin, to devise a number of measures for psychological variables Wilhelm Wundt - Answer-started the first experimental psychology laboratory and measured variables such as reaction time, perception, and attention span